San Benito-Plumas-Shasta County CA Archives Biographies.....Roche, James Henry 1849 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 18, 2007, 12:32 am

Author: Luther A. Ingersoll, Editor (1893)

JAMES HENRY ROCHE, a California pioneer of 1855, now a well-to-do farmer near
San Juan, in Benito county, was born in County Clare, Ireland, March 11, 1837.
His father was a farmer and stock-raiser, who emigrated to America in the fall
of 1847, accompanied by an older son and the subject of this sketch. They landed
in Massachusetts, and James, then about eleven years of age, worked in the Fall
River Nail Works for two bits a day, and was later employed in the American
Print (Calico) Works, in the same place.

  He afterward shipped as seaman on the Margaret Evans, a merchant sailing
vessel, making a trip to Europe, being gone two years. On his return, he spent
two years at home, and then came to California, arriving in the latter State in
the fall of 1855. The following three years he spent mining in Union Valley,
Plumas, Shasta and Trinity counties. He then returned to San Francisco, and
secured employment from the Bensley Water Company, and later, worked for the
Spring Valley Company. He aided in laying the water main from Seventeen Mile
House to and in the city of San Francisco. He also worked for Morrell Brothers,
in the same city, and superintended for them, in the fall of 1860, the erection
of the Coal Oil Works at Carpenteria, Santa Barbara county.

  In that same year, he went to San Juan and acted as foreman on a ranch for J.
P. Sargent, staying there, off and on, for two years and a half. He then
commenced farming for himself at Sargent Station, San Benito county, where he
remained one year. He then in 1864, removed to the city of San Juan, where he
entered the wholesale mercantile business. He continued successfully in this
enterprise until 1868, which was known as "small-pox year," and then closed out
his interests. He then farmed at Paicines, where he also started a store, which
he conducted for two years. At the end of this time, he returned to San Juan,
where he speculated and was engaged in the meat business. He took a prominent
part in establishing this town, where he remained for eight years. In 1878, he
left that city and commenced work for Dr. Thomas Flint. After three years he
removed to his present farm of 300 acres, on which he proved up about eleven
years ago.

  Mr. Roche has served in many prominent and useful capacities. When in San
Francisco, he was an active member of Columbia, No. 11, Burt Street Fire
Department, Columbia Guards, the Home Guards; in all of which he did efficient
work. At San Juan, he was Marshal three terms; was Deputy Sheriff under Thomas
Watson, and was one of nine who pursued Bundet Vascus for twenty-two days in the
mountains of Monterey, San Benito county, into Los Angeles county. He also
served on the Board of Trustees. In all of these trying positions his acts have
been distinguished for intelligence and honesty.

  He was married in Sargent, August 27, 1863, to Miss Guadalupe, an estimable
lady, a native of Santa Clara county, and daughter of Don Jose Marie Sunches.
They have had twelve children, six sons and six daughters, nine of whom are
living.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.

HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."-Macaulay.

CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.

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